Post-match quotes: Crew at Houston Dynamo

The final result was 3-1. We lost and didn’t get any points. That’s the bottom line. We created the chances. We just couldn’t score goals and therefore we didn’t. They played well in the first half and they scored two goals. But we pushed for the second-half. Obviously, the ball has to go in the net.”

On turnovers

Playing away from home, we have to make sure we have it solid in the back and get the ball in certain areas. If you play against a good team, you’re going to have pressure.

On the gameplan for Houston

“I mean we came here to win the game. We started 3 forwards, but we were not too stressful. I think defense was very solid. We had one chance after they scored off the penalty. We had one chance against Tally Hall, but you know obviously we didn’t score. And that hurt us.“

Columbus Crew forward Ryan Finley

On the goal (officially an own goal)

I kind of positioned myself between the two defenders and took a touch and was able to toe-poke it in, and luckily it went in the corner. So, you know I think I had a couple more chances tonight that I probably should have put away and probably would have changed the game a little bit but stuff happens sometimes being a forward. We just got to keep pushing and hopefully we can put an end to all of this little slump that we’re in next week.

On his role

I was happy to come on and get 45 minutes and like I said I probably could have finished one or two more and maybe help the team crawl back into it. But, I was happy to come on and get the goal or whatever the league decides. Obviously the guys played some good ball to get it to me, and I was able to get behind the defense, so I think I’m working well with my teammates and they’re setting me up with some good opportunities.

Thoughts moving forward

I think we just got to get our heads up. I mean it’s definitely not a work ethic thing at practice or anything like that. I think you just get unlucky sometimes in this sport. The most important thing is we got to stay positive, we got to stay strong in the locker room. Things will turn around eventually, so I’m pretty sure of that.

Columbus Crew forward Dominic Oduro

Thoughts on match

First off, it wasn’t good. I thought we came out pretty hard. We stepped up our game. We were able to get one. We were just trying to equalize and play the game. We had our chances. We just let them get away. It happened. They’re a great team. This is a great place to play. They were able to take their chances and put them in the net. And we just got to keep our head up. I know it’s really tough right now. We will just keep our head up and keep fighting.

On fixing mistakes

We just have to come out as a team right now. We have to stick together. We really have to work as a team. That’s the only way that’s going to work. We got to go back again and regroup. We can’t do it as individuals. But everybody out there, we just have to work as a team and hopefully it will work.